Question: Pick your Man of the Match as Saints were beaten at Wembley.

Now it is well known around these parts that Vicarage Road isn't our best loved venue to visit.  There has been many a spat on these sites about the merits or otherwise of Sarries home ground.  Personally I try to stay away from the worst excesses of the criticisms - I mean if I come round to your house it isn't very polite to then complain about the decor and the fact that the kids are noisy is it? This year, however, we would be spared all that as Sarries in an effort to increase their support are switching a number of "home" games to Wembley and we were the first of these switches.  There were many around predicting a low turn out and a souless atmosphere but all credit to Sarries marketing department as almost 45,000 turned up to watch.  Now part of Sarries strategy is to attract ex pat Sarfies to watch their games.  I am concerned for them with this strategy as watching games on TV over here in SA it is obvious most clubs - even in the final stages of the Currie Cup - struggle to fill their grounds.  I have watched many games with a backdrop of empty seats.

So we were going to Wembley and most of what we could do was grumble: it isn't a real rugby ground, the beer is really expensive and is all fizzy, the food requires a mortgage to buy, why do we have to watch all this so called pre match entertainment.  My god we are becoming like that aged Uncle who does nothing but complain!  Oh well on to the rugby!

My biggest issue with going to Saracens is that we far too often get a thumping, last year was a case in point where we were expertly turned over and came away empty handed.  What would be the case this year?

The first half was a tight affair dominated by the whistle of sir and the boots of Greraghty and Jackson.  Sarries had the better of it leading 9 - 3 at half time with both kickers also missing two shots at goal.

Early in the second half was the first of two key incidents that turned the game.  Both of these were marginal in that if I was a Sarries supporter I would see them differently.  I, however, am a Saintsman.  The ball was being shifted left by Saints in the Sarries 22 when it was passed to our renowned third wingman, Dylan Hartley!  Noah Cato rush out of the defensive line and arrived at Dylan fractionally before the ball.  Cato sort of tackled Dylan at shoulder height as the ball arrived and made Dylan fumble for the ball.  Cato grabbed the ball and raced 80 yards to score.  Now a lot was written hereabouts on this was it a high tackle, was it a tackle without the ball? The answer is I say a marginal yes to both but the key was sir didn't see it that way.

At this stage I expected Sarries to capitalise and put the game beyond Saints reach but no - this is a different Saints this year.  Our heads didn't drop, we didn't concede easy points and we came back at them.  Within 4 minutes Jon Clarke danced over for a try which was converted bringing the score to 16 -10.

Geraghty and Jackson then traded penalties and with time running out the score had reached 19 - 16 but the Saints were on the attack.  It was now that the second of the two incidents occurred.  With the game in its final minute Tiny rumbled over, well onto, the line.  Digger and Dickson who were right on hand pointed and celebrated the try they thought they had seen scored right in front of them.  Sir was however unsure and decided to go upstairs for some help.  After what seemed an age the decision was no try as Tiny was adjudged to have knocked on.  A scrum and a penalty to Sarries later and the game was over.  Now I am just going to quote Will Greenwood from his Twitter post following the game "Northampton stuttering, but robbed by video ref, try, try, try".

So the positives are two games in and points from both BUT it could so easily have been two wins.  I am feeling better about the season as we are yet to click.  When we do we could be some team!!

Who caught the eye?

In joint third this week with just under 12% of the votes were Phil Dowson and Dylan Hartley.  Phil, a new joiner this season from the Falcons, is already making his mark and Dylan seems to be maturing into the captaincy.  That could still be one of the shrewdest decisions from Jim and Doreen.

In second place was Jon Clarke in 18%.  Jon has struggled with some horrifying injuries, let's hope he can avoid them this year and work his way back to top form.

The winner however was Tiny with 38% of the votes, Tiny has become the player we hoped he would when he arrived from Bedford as a raw recruit.  All credit to the coaching staff including the Hood for this progress.  I think there could be more to come.

After two weeks we have used 19 different starting players.

Thank you to the 118 people who voted.

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